Manufacturing output down again

11/12/2008 15:00

In October, the average daily output of Dutch manufacturing industry was 2.5 percent down on twelve months previously. Manufacturing output declined for the fourth month in a row, the most substantial downturn in more than half a decade. In all branches of manufacturing industry output was down on October 2007. The last time that this occurred was in August 1991.

Seasonally adjusted figures provide a more reliable picture of short-term production developments. Monthly figures not adjusted for seasonal effects are often somewhat erratic. Therefore, the two-monthly average compared with the previous two-monthly average is a more accurate indicator. After correction for seasonal effects and the number of working days, manufacturing output declined by 1.5 percent over the period September - October compared with July - August.